Five San Rafael boys earn Eagle Scout honor

Five San Rafael boys have earned the honor of Eagle Scout, the highest rank the Boy Scouts offer, the troop leader said Saturday.

Each of the young men earned the 21 merit badges required to receive the Eagle Scout award, according to William Coronado, Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 2000 in San Rafael.

Benjamin Guardado, Braulio Resendiz, Jesus Parra, Jorge Marquez and Kevin Ochoa, all members of the troop, took on challenges including community service projects that took years to accomplish, Coronado said.

"Benjamin Guardado cleaned up the playground at Pickleweed Park at the Albert J. Boro Community Center," Coronado said. "He picked up piles of garbage, rebuilt a little structure where the children go to play."

Another one of the boys, Jesus Parra, built five garbage and recycling cans for China Camp State Park in San Rafael, Coronado said. "He went to different lumber stores and got donations of materials for free. He worked the magic," the scoutmaster said.